DUNMANWAY TOWN 4

DRINAGH RANGERS 8

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

BARRY O’Driscoll (H) and Tom McQueen hat-tricks helped Drinagh Rangers see off Dunmanway Town to reach the West Cork League’s Beamish Cup quarter-finals.

The magic of the Beamish Cup was on display at Canon Crowley Park under floodlights on Tuesday evening. Twelve goals, two hat-tricks, a late fightback and freezing temperatures. This cup tie had it all.

Rescheduled from its original clash at The Meadows, postponed due to a frozen pitch, Drinagh knocked out their great rivals following a high-scoring clash.

2-1 up at the break, a rampant Rangers added six more in the second half but also conceded three times. That should act as a warning sign to Robert O’Regan’s side heading into the business end of the West Cork League’s most famous knockout competition.

Rangers played some wonderful football and utilised Barry O’Driscoll (H), Tom McQueen, Padraic Hegarty and Robbie McQueen’s skills to deservedly progress. Meanwhile, 2020 and 2021 Beamish Cup winners Dunmanway kicked off having already completed their Premier Division fixture-list.

Drinagh are currently embroiled in a battle for the Premier Division title with Clonakilty Soccer Club and Togher Celtic. Rangers, who last lifted the Beamish Cup in 2018, were eager to rebound from a recent league loss to Clonakilty.

A frenetic start saw both sides go on the attack as Steven O’Donovan forced a save from Drinagh’s Paddy McCarthy. Rangers showed plenty of endeavour too with O’Driscoll and Cillian Fitzpatrick probing for an opening.

Town’s O’Donovan and Ciarán Nangle tried their luck from distance, yet the score remained unchanged until the 27th minute.

Donal O’Donovan was afforded too much time wide on the left wing. The Drinagh player’s perfectly delivered cross was met by a bullet O’Driscoll header to push the home team ahead.

Barry O’Donovan’s early injury and substitution robbed Dunmanway of one of their most experienced players. Their opponents took advantage with Padraic Hegarty and Tom McQueen dominating the centre of the pitch.

Unable to mount a response, Town conceded for a second time six minutes after falling behind. Daniel McCarthy’s lofted pass into the Dunmanway penalty area saw O’Driscoll head in his second.

Robbie McQueen and Cillian Fitzpatrick kept Rangers on the front foot but Keith White, and Nathan Mawe O’Donovan’s increased efforts helped drag Dunmanway back into contention. White was brought down in the Drinagh box and Steven O’Donovan dispatched the resulting penalty to halve the deficit after 43 minutes.

Cillian Fitzpatrick’s header was brilliantly saved by Killian Vassallo and Daniel McCarthy struck an upright as Drinagh finished the half on the attack.

O’Driscoll came close to completing his hat-trick early in the second period. Undeterred, the veteran striker turned provider to set up Tom McQueen for Drinagh’s third goal after 54 minutes. O’Driscoll didn’t have to wait long however, collecting Robbie McQueen’s pass and completing his hat-trick to make it 4-1.

An overworked Dunmanway defence conceded for a fifth time on the hour mark. The McQueen brothers combined, Tom finding Robbie, who scored to heap further misery on their local rivals.

It was one-way traffic for much of the third quarter with Rangers dominating possession and Dunmanway struggling to keep their opponents at bay.

Additional Tom McQueen (his second) and Michael Hennigan goals made it 7-1 and Dunmanway looked in danger of suffering an even heavier loss.

To their credit, Town took advantage of slack Drinagh defending and scored twice in as many minutes. Aidan O’Donovan fired home from an uncleared corner before Will Hennigan broke free and slotted under Paddy McCarthy.

Hennigan scored again right at the death to put a healthier gloss on the final score.

There was still time for Tom McQueen to complete his team’s second hat-trick of the evening.

In the end, despite some late defensive lapses, Drinagh fully deserved their victory. Intriguingly, the two clubs meet again in the Parkway Hotel/Maybury’s Coaches Cup semi-finals in Dunmanway on Sunday.

Dunmanway Town: Killian Vassallo, Jamie Dullea, Steven O’Donovan, Barry O’Donovan (captain), Conor Vassallo, Ciarán Nangle, Aidan O’Donovan, Ray Jennings, Nathan Mawe O’Donovan, Keith White, Oran McCarthy.

Subs: Rory Carroll, Gavin Dullea, Will Hennigan, Ian Bryan, Gavin Lordan, Barry O’Neill, David Ring.

Drinagh Rangers: Paddy McCarthy, Daniel McCarthy, JJ Collins, Donal O’Donovan, Steven Crowley, Padraig Cronin, Robbie McQueen (captain), Tom McQueen, Cillian Fitzpatrick, Padraic Hegarty, Barry O’Driscoll (H).

Subs: Jack Payne Murphy, Eoin Hurley, Michael Hennigan, Morgan Sloggett, Mark Grace, Harry Carey, Caolan O’Driscoll,

Referee: Sean Doyle.